The Book of
Daniel

And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God,
and blessing the Lord.

Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and
opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,

Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is
worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:

For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast
done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy
judgments truth.

In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon
the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true
judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these
things upon us because of our sins.

For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from
thee. In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments,
nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go
well with us.

Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every
thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.

And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless
enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the
most wicked in all the world.

And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame
and reproach to thy servants; and to them that worship thee.

And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved
Abraham's sake, for thy servant Issac's sake, and for thy holy Israel's
sake;

To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest
multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth
upon the seashore.

For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be
kept under this day in all the world because of our sins.

Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or
leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place
to sacrifice before thee, and to find mercy.

Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let
us be accepted.

Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and
like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy
sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall
not be confounded that put their trust in thee.

And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee,
and seek thy face.

Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy
lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.

Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and
give glory to thy name, O Lord: and let all them that do thy servants hurt
be ashamed;

And let them be confounded in all their power and might,
and let their strength be broken;

And let them know that thou art God, the only God, and
glorious over the whole world.

And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to
make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood;

So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty
and nine cubits.

And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found
about the furnace.

But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together
with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the
oven;

And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist
whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor
troubled them.

Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified,
and blessed, God in the furnace, saying,

Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be
praised and exalted above all for ever.

And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be
praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to
be praised and glorified above all for ever.

Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest
upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom:
and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.

Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above ail
to be praised and glorified for ever.

O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise and
exalt him above all for ever,

O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord : praise and exalt him
above all for ever.

O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the
Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him
above all for ever.

O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt
him above all for ever.

O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him
above all for ever,

O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt
him above all for ever.

O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: praise
and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: bless and exalt
him above all for ever.

O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him
above all for ever.

O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt
him above all for ever.

O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above
all for ever.

O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise
and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye things that grow in the earth, bless ye the Lord:
praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye mountains, bless ye the Lord: Praise and exalt him
above all for ever.

O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt
him above all for ever.

O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the
Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt
him above all for ever.

O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above
all for ever.

O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and
exalt him above all for ever.

O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the
Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord:
praise and exalt him above all for ever.

O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise
and exalt him above all for ever: far he hath delivered us from hell, and
saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the
furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he
delivered us.

O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for
his mercy endureth for ever.

O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods,
praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.

And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the
daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

Her parents also were righteous, and taught
their daughter according to the law of Moses.

Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair
garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he
was more honourable than all others.

The same year were appointed two of the ancients
of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness
came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.

These kept much at Joacim's house: and all that
had any suits in law came unto them.

Now when the people departed away at noon,
Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk.

And the two elders saw her going in every day,
and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her.

And they perverted their own mind, and turned
away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just
judgments.

And albeit they both were wounded with her love,
yet durst not one shew another his grief.

For they were ashamed to declare their lust,
that they desired to have to do with her.

Yet they watched diligently from day to day to
see her.

And the one said to the other, Let us now go
home: for it is dinner time.

So when they were gone out, they parted the one
from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and
after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their
lust: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her
alone.

And it fell out, as they watched a fit time, she
went in as before with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash
herself in the garden: for it was hot.

And there was no body there save the two elders,
that had hid themselves, and watched her.

Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and
washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.

And they did as she bade them, and shut the
garden doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things
that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they
were hid.

Now when the maids were gone forth, the two
elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying,

Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man
can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and
lie with us.

If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against
thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away
thy maids from thee.

Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened
on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it
not I cannot escape your hands.

It is better for me to fall into your hands, and
not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and
the two elders cried out against her.

Then ran the one, and opened the garden door.

So when the servants of the house heard the cry
in the garden, they rushed in at the privy door, to see what was done unto
her.

But when the elders had declared their matter,
the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made
of Susanna.

And it came to pass the next day, when the
people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full
of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death;

And said before the people, Send for Susanna,
the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim's wife. And so they sent.

So she came with her father and mother, her
children, and all her kindred.

Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and
beauteous to behold.

And these wicked men commanded to uncover her
face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with her beauty.

Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.

Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the
people, and laid their hands upon her head.

And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her
heart trusted in the Lord.

And the elders said, As we walked in the garden
alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and
sent the maids away.

Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto
her, and lay with her.

Then we that stood in a corner of the garden,
seeing this wickedness, ran unto them.

And when we saw them together, the man we could
not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped
out.

But having taken this woman, we asked who the
young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify.

Then the assembly believed them as those that
were the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death.

Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and
said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things
before they be:

Thou knowest that they have borne false witness
against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as
these men have maliciously invented against me.

And the Lord heard her voice.

Therefore when she was led to be put to death,
the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel:

Who cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the
blood of this woman.

Then all the people turned them toward him, and
said, What mean these words that thou hast spoken?

So he standing in the midst of them said, Are ye
such fools, ye sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of
the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel?

Return again to the place of judgment: for they
have borne false witness against her.

Wherefore all the people turned again in haste,
and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and shew it us,
seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.

Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside
one far from another, and I will examine them.

So when they were put asunder one from another,
he called one of them, and said unto him, O thou that art waxen old in
wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to
light.

For thou hast pronounced false judgment and hast
condemned the innocent and hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord
saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.

Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, Under
what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Under a
mastick tree.

And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast lied
against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the
sentence of God to cut thee in two.

So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the
other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty
hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart.

Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel,
and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not
abide your wickedness.

Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst
thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under an holm tree.

Then said Daniel unto him, Well; thou hast also
lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword
to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.

With that all the assembly cried out with a loud
voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him.

And they arose against the two elders, for
Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth:

And according to the law of Moses they did unto
them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour:
and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same
day.

Therefore Chelcias and his wife praised God for
their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband, and all the kindred,
because there was no dishonesty found in her.

From that day forth was Daniel had in great
reputation in the sight of the people.

And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers, and Cyrus
of Persia received his kingdom.

And Daniel conversed with the king, and was honoured above
all his friends.

Now the Babylons had an idol, called Bel, and there were
spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty
sheep, and six vessels of wine.

And the king worshipped it and went daily to adore it: but
Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said unto him, Why dost not
thou worship Bel?

Who answered and said, Because I may not worship idols
made with hands, but the living God, who hath created the heaven and the
earth, and hath sovereignty over all flesh.

Then said the king unto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is
a living God? seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day?

Then Daniel smiled, and said, O king, be not deceived: for
this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or drink any
thing.

So the king was wroth, and called for his priests, and
said unto them, If ye tell me not who this is that devoureth these
expences, ye shall die.

But if ye can certify me that Bel devoureth them, then
Daniel shall die: for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel
said unto the king, Let it be according to thy word.

Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, beside
their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of
Bel.

So Bel's priests said, Lo, we go out: but thou, O king,
set on the meat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast and seal
it with thine own signet;

And to morrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not
that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death: or else Daniel, that
speaketh falsely against us.

And they little regarded it: for under the table they had
made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed
those things.

So when they were gone forth, the king set meats before
Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and those they
strewed throughout all the temple in the presence of the king alone: then
went they out, and shut the door, and sealed it with the king's signet,
and so departed.

Now in the night came the priests with their wives and
children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drinck up all.

In the morning betime the king arose, and Daniel with him.

And the king said, Daniel, are the seals whole? And he
said, Yea, O king, they be whole.

And as soon as he had opened the dour, the king looked
upon the table, and cried with a loud voice, Great art thou, O Bel, and
with thee is no deceit at all.

Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not
go in, and said, Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps
are these.

And the king said, I see the footsteps of men, women, and
children. And then the king was angry,

And took the priests with their wives and children, who
shewed him the privy doors, where they came in, and consumed such things
as were upon the table.

Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into
Daniel's power, who destroyed him and his temple.

And in that same place there was a great dragon, which
they of Babylon worshipped.

And the king said unto Daniel, Wilt thou also say that
this is of brass? lo, he liveth, he eateth and drinketh; thou canst not
say that he is no living god: therefore worship him.

Then said Daniel unto the king, I will worship the Lord my
God: for he is the living God.

But give me leave, O king, and I shall slay this dragon
without sword or staff. The king said, I give thee leave.

Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe
them together, and made lumps thereof: this he put in the dragon's mouth,
and so the dragon burst in sunder : and Daniel said, Lo, these are the
gods ye worship.

When they of Babylon heard that, they took great
indignation, and conspired against the king, saying, The king is become a
Jew, and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the dragon, and put the
priests to death.

So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or
else we will destroy thee and thine house.

Now when the king saw that they pressed him sore, being
constrained, he delivered Daniel unto them:

Who cast him into the lions' den: where he was six days.

And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given
them every day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not given to
them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.

Now there was in Jewry a prophet, called Habbacuc, who had
made pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl, and was going into the
field, for to bring it to the reapers.

But the angel of the Lord said unto Habbacuc, Go, carry
the dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lions'
den.

And Habbacuc said, Lord, I never saw Babylon; neither do I
know where the den is.

Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and bare

him by the hair of his head, and through the vehemency of
his spirit set him in Babylon over the den.

And Habbacuc cried, saying, O Daniel, Daniel, take the
dinner which God hath sent thee.